One For Arthur becomes a Grand National treasure for Scotland

Great Scot: One For Arthur and Derek Fox win the Randox Health Grand National at Aintree - Rex Features

One For Arthur, an eight-year-old trained in Kinross, proved to be one for Scotland when he out-jumped and outstayed his 39 rivals to win the 170th Randox Health Grand National at Aintree. Backed by Arthurs across Britain and most of Scotland, he was sent off at 14-1.

He was ridden by Derek Fox, who only returned to action this week less than a month after fracturing his wrist.

His trainer Lucinda Russell becomes the fourth woman to train a National winner; she was assisted by her partner, the former Champion jockey Peter Scudamore.

One For Arthur struggled to go the strong pace for the first mile but he finished like a train. At one stage he was 20 lengths back behind the pace-setting Rogue Angel but he steadily crept into the contest helped by some superb jumping.

With one of the favourites Definitely Red, hampered at Becher’s first time and pulled up at Valentines, it was the other popular horse in the betting, Blaklion, the 8-1 favourite, who slipped five lengths clear of the field three out under Noel Fehily apparently full of running. Favourite backers must have been counting their money.

But the Melling Road is deceptively far from home. There is still three quarters of mile to run at the point and the National is notorious for late changes in the running order as the stamina kicks in with some horses and fades with others.

Going to the second last Noel Fehily’s mount began to tire and a pack of five horses, with One For Arthur on their outside, started to close him down.

They swamped him at the second last and Fox sent One For Arthur to the front a few strides out from the last. There another superb leap gave him just the head start he wanted over Cause of Causes, ridden by the outstanding Irish amateur jockey Jamie Codd.

From there on up the two furlong run-in One For Arthur, driven out by Fox, never looked like surrendering his lead and he came home to collect the £560,000 first prize four and a half lengths ahead of Cause of Causes to become only the second ever Scottish winner of the race. The first was Rubstic in 1979.

Saint Are stayed on late to take third and take a place in the National two years after finishing second to Many Clouds. Blaklion was fourth.

With jockeys under strict instruction to dismount after the line and lead their horses to a special cool-down area for a drink and to be hosed down, Fox was escorted back to the winner’s enclosure on his feet. One of the biggest cheers was when, in front of the stands, he got a huge hug from his trainer.

Russell, 50, whose accommodation at the meeting was her camper van in the horsebox park rather than the Aldephi Hotel, described it as a dream come true.

“There’ll be a big party at Kinross,” she said. “I’m just delighted for Derek – he’s a big part of our set up. We missed him when he was at Jack Berry House (the Injured Jockeys’ Fund’s northern rehabilitation centre.)

“The girls – the Golf Widows – are just great. They’ve enjoyed every minute of the journey. I said to them this might be the greatest fun we ever have.”

She added: “I wasn’t too worried about the ground. I had a quiet moment with him before the race. I was looking at him and thought you’re tall and light framed you’ll be alright. He was a bit out-paced early but he’s done really well.

"Derek is really good at holding them up but sometimes he’s criticised for being too far back but he wasn’t today. He’s only 24. He didn’t get flustered – he’s got a great attitude.

“I’m delighted for Scotland, the two girls love racing, they put their money back into Scotland but we won’t mention the SNP, please!”

The Sligo-born Fox, who learned to be a jockey with his uncle Mark McNiff, joined Russell with the promise of nothing when he lost his 5lb claim in Ireland. But after some early success for her he was promoted to first jockey when Peter Buchanan retired.

In pre-Jack Berry House days he would have missed the race though injury after breaking his wrist and collar bone at Carlisle on March 9 but the physiotherapists there got him back with three days to spare.

Great leap forward: One For Arthur jumped brilliantlyCredit: Rex

“He won it so easily,” said Fox. “The only concern I had was that he’d be too slow and get too far back. After a circuit I was thinking I can’t be going as well as I am. He was making two or three lengths at every fence so I thought I’d go a bit wider on him. In the end I was worried I’d get there too soon. But he’s the gamest horse I’ve ever ridden – he galloped all the way to the line.

“I was determined to get back (from the injury) and I’m very lucky to have the ride on him in the first place – I can’t believe it.”

Scots wahey: One For Arthur scoresCredit: Reuters

Peter Scuadmore, a sounding board for the trainer and jockey who was wearing his father’s lucky tie, said: “I was worried about the ground. If you’d said to be an hour before ‘you could take him home now because the ground is too fast’ he have been on the lorry.

“Sometimes loyalty is still a great thing and I was very pleased we stuck by Derek and he won the National. I don’t like the word small but we’re not from one of the more fashionable places. Sometimes this race throws up fairy tales and this is one of them.”

In all 19 finished with Katie Walsh, the only female riding in the race, bringing up the rear on Wonderful Charm. Her horse was never quite able to get competitive.

For the fourth year in succession all horses came back safe and sound. On that score, just as the winner of this year’s National will be seen as a good result, so will the fact that not one horse was lost over the three days of this year’s meeting.

The owners are known as The Golf Widows

Lucinda Russell trainer of the winner

So pleased for the team. It's them that should be here not me. I just organise things. We just knew that barring accidents he could win a National. It is brilliant for Scotland and for the whole team and the yard.

Sixth fence

Fifth Fence

First fence

Getting ready to start

But it's a bit of a circus there. The main pack are ready to go and some of them really, really want to get cracking. But a few others are straggling off to the side and aren't joining. There is a false start! Some of them are too keen

Credit: ITV

They regather. And now another couple have bolted off.

Credit: ITV

Raz De Maree and one other.

"This is the problem," says commentator Richard Hoiles. With them being animals? BUT THEY ARE OFF!!!

A lot of the jockeys

take their horse up to the first fence so they can have a look at what they're about to jump. It reminds me of PE when you are a kid and they make you vault over that pommel thing. I hated that. If you're reading, BAGA gymnastics badge people, go fly a kite.

Horses parade in front of the stands now

There's number 32, Raz de Maree, he's the oldest horse in the race and he is 12 years old.

Credit: AFP

Lord Windermere has been slow to get out of the parade ring and has held everyone up a bit. "That's not a good sign. If he does not want to start he will not want to finish," says ITV pundit Sir AP McCoy.

This horse has got a racy silk mask on

Jim White has a great view

More Of That

An Irish contender is trained by Jonjo O'Neill, a legend of the sport, who was a great jockey and is now a top trainer. In 2010, his Don't Push It won the National for AP McCoy, and More Of That will go in the same colours, those of Irish betting icon JP McManus. More Of That's last race was in the Gold Cup at Cheltenham but it was not really his day. Class act, but he's had some setbacks. If you like the cut of his jib, you could bet on him at 16/1 with Corals.

Let's have a look at Blaklion

In the Betfred Grand National Trial Handicap Chase (Grade 3) at Haydock he was second to Vieux Lion Rouge, who is also involved today. VLR carries ten stone 12, Blaklion 11 stone 2. For those new to the Grand National, the race is a handicap, which means that expert assessors give each horse a weight depending on its previous performances. So, the top weight The Last Samuri has, in broad terms, the best CV of the contenders.

Credit: Rex

If the ground is really muddy and heavy, carrying more weight becomes more arduous. But it's nice and sunny today so you shouldn't rule out horses that are heaving a bit around with them.

Roi Des Francs

Who is priced at 80/1, is ridden by Jack Kennedy - good strong name that. Jack's the youngest rider in the race. Roi Des Francs is trained by Gordon Elliott; he won his last race, at Down Royal blinkered for the first time.

Okay. That's the appetisers taken care of

One can forget how much brilliant racing there is on Grand National day. But that's not the focus of our attention for the rest of the day. The job now is to pick the winner of the world's greatest horserace. Here are the runners and riders.

Vantage point

Marlborough though, has a different view

The Telegraph's top tipster has a fancy for Saphir Du Rheu. Read why that is here.

The positive effects of an easy, confidence-boosting success should never be underestimated in racing as they often provide a potent catalyst for improvement or resurgence, which has been the case for my Grand National selection, Saphir Du Rheu.

His facile victory over much inferior opposition at Kelso in February – his first success for more than 15 months – has prompted a rediscovery of enthusiasm and form as he showcased with a fine effort in the Timico Gold Cup at the recent Cheltenham Festival.

The level of that performance is far above anything he has achieved since his novice chasing days, when he looked a top-class prospect, and, at last, he seems ready to fulfil that early potential.

He raced just behind the pace at Cheltenham and impressed with his economical jumping, an area that warranted concern not so long ago.While never looking like the winner, he kept on solidly from the final fence and was beaten just over six lengths in a race that was run in a good time. Armed with this form, the Handicapper would surely have allotted him more weight.

Ed Chamberlin reckons

That One For Arthur might be the, well, the one. Read him on that here.

As for the race itself, it is getting tougher and tougher to pick the right horse. The first ever winner was called Lottery, and that feels appropriate for this year. I like One For Arthur. My grandfather, Jock Burns, would always back two things: Scottish-trained runners (the clue’s in the name) and greys.

Jock’s method only came good once, in 1979 with Rubstic, but I think One For Arthur has big claims. Linda Russell’s Kinross-based eight-year-old is a brilliant jumper - he could get round at Badminton. And he is owned by the Golf Widows (Belinda McClung and Deborah Thomson), whose husbands clearly spend all their time on the golf course and had got them this horse. Arthur was a really impressive winner of the Classic Chase at Warwick, and they were great fun to interview after that, so I hope we get another chance on Saturday.

If you reckon the ITV presenter might have the goods, then you can back Arthur at 14/1 with Corals.

Lucy Verasamy

Who is a weather forecaster, can exclusively reveal that it is nice weather there. Will be a little bit colder later, 17 degrees, but even so after the race all the horses will have water put on them and fans to help them cool down.

In the 2.25 at Aintree

The Betway Mersey Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1) Lough Derg Spirit is making the running. I liked Messire Des Obeaux in this, wonder if he can improve from that third in the Neptune at Cheltenham? Finian's Oscar, though, has come with a terrific run as they come up to the line, and much as in the Neptune;, MDO cannot come again. That's a really impressive win from Finian's Oscar. Great ride from Robbie Power. Colin Tizzard is in dreamland.

ITV's coverage begins

Mick Fitzgerald is in the Adelphi Hotel, where he famously partied all night on the Saturday the National was postponed for the bomb scare.

"It is a thrill like no other. When you win you float in. But I have known the other side of it as well. Lying on the floor at the second fence, unable to feel my legs for a time. Scared. But you know what? I would do it all again."

1.45 at Aintree

The first race of the day, the Gaskells Handicap Hurdle is off in glorious sunshine. And Fountain's Windfall is off in glorious style himself. He has made all, and he is going to make all here to win in high style. He has destroyed the field there, led from first to last and he has ground his rivals into the dust.

As Ed Chamberlin said in his column this morning:

I also like Perfect Candidate. He is a bold-jumping front-runner, and when the ground is decent, as it will be, a front-runner can be hard to peg back over these National fences. I thought Fergal O’Brien might have gone for Gold with him at Cheltenham but I am glad they have kept him fresh for this.

God in heaven. Not exactly an impressive bunch of tipsters, eh? Readers, I can only apologise. Here are two actual experts, Daily Telegraph tipster Marlborough and Marcus Armytage, who knows what it takes to win the race because he has literally actually won the race.

Marlbrough

The positive effects of an easy, confidence-boosting success should never be underestimated in racing as they often provide a potent catalyst for improvement or resurgence, which has been the case for my Grand National selection, Saphir Du Rheu.

His facile victory over much inferior opposition at Kelso in February – his first success for more than 15 months – has prompted a rediscovery of enthusiasm and form as he showcased with a fine effort in the Timico Gold Cup at the recent Cheltenham Festival.

Armytage

On the other hand, THIS is the sort of press release we like

Retired race horse, Mister McGoldrick, was seen prancing around in front of the iconic Liver Building, showing off his painted hooves and diamante mane while getting a blow dry from some of Liverpool’s finest beauty artists, to promote his friends featuring www.manematch.co.uk which helps people find the horse of their dreams for this Saturday’s Randox Health Grand National.

Credit: Mane Match

I have no idea why. But well done to all concerned. His little horsey feet!

Two press release emails in a row that make me think

that a total and, if necessary, ultraviolent feminist revolution is what this country needs right away

Betway’s Alan Alger, said: “I’m not sure whether it’s the pink and purple silks or the juicy price that has caught the Liverpool ladies’ attention – but there will be a loud cheer if Le Mercurey goes in."

Horse welfare

Temperatures on a bright sunny day are expected to be around 17 degrees Celsius this afternoon and could even reach 20 degrees Celsius.

Aintree Racecourse prioritises horse welfare above all else, with a raft of measures introduced over the years.

One of the most important is the wash-down area, which is there to cool horses after a race. It has large cooling fans, cold water sprays and buckets of cold water to throw over horses. The intention is to bring down a horse's temperature back to normal as quickly as possible.

John Baker, Regional Director of Jockey Club Racecourses North West, said: "It is forecast to be a warm afternoon and therefore racegoers should not be surprised if jockeys dismount on the course after the Randox Health Grand National and buckets of water are thrown over the horses as they are led to the wash-down area.

"This is a normal procedure, rather than being exceptional, and hopefully everyone will recognise that the horses are always our top priority.

"This may mean that one or two of the first four horses, who normally come into the winner's enclosure, may not do so as cooling down continues."

Jockey change

He replaces Liam Treadwell, who is injured after falling at the first fence in the Randox Health Topham Chase yesterday.

Rotten luck for Liam, hard lines.

Tenor Nivernais

Tenor Nivernais is trained by Venetia Williams. He won by THIRTY lengths not last race but the race before, at Ascot, but that was three miles and his stamina is under question over this freakishly long distance. Liam was riding him that day. Still, he's been well treated by the handicapper.

Sunny day

Good day! Forms books / pins at the ready. It’s a lovely day at Aintree. Here’s Jim White:

One thing to be said from the course: although it's blisteringly hot and you'd imagine everything had dried up in a frazzle, the ground is good. They chucked half the Mersey on it overnight. Watering it still at 11 o'clock.

Very impressed by John Kempton's suit. He wore it 50 years ago the day Foinavon won and it still fits him. Not only that, a three piece tweed number in this temperature takes some wearing...

"This is one of the most surprising and extraordinary Grand National gambles in recent history as Cocktails At Dawn has arguably the least chance on form of all 40 runners in the race, yet the horse's name has grabbed the attention of millions of once a year punters," said Simon Clare, Coral Spokesman.

"Bookmakers will be nursing one of the worst Grand National hangovers ever tomorrow if Cocktails At Dawn comes home in front", added Clare.

Definitly Red is proving the most popular horse with Coral in terms of volume of bets, well ahead of the Last Samuri, One For Arthur and Pleasant Company. Cocktails At Dawn is tenth in the list, but given the huge odds on offer (now 28/1 from 80/1), will be by far the worst result in Coral's book. Wonderful Charm is ninth in the list and has been cut to 25/1 from 33/1.